Senior Project Manager - Contract

Walker Sands; Chicago (IL); Hybrid; USD 50,000 - 73,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Monthly Salary: $4,500–$6,500

Growth Opportunities

Flexible PTO and Hybrid Work

Performance Coaching

Community & Belonging

Culture

Job summary

Walker Sands in Chicago, IL is seeking a Senior Project Manager on a 6-month contract to lead a portfolio of marketing projects across creative, strategy and digital disciplines.

You will plan, staff, monitor budgets, communicate with clients and internal teams, and drive process improvements while mentoring junior team members.

This role offers hybrid work, strong growth potential, paid holidays and a collaborative culture that values accountability and excellence.

Qualifications

• 4+ years of project management experience in a marketing or agency environment.
• Proficient with Project Management tools (e.g., Trello) and marketing platforms (HubSpot, Pardot, GA).
• Strong understanding of Waterfall and Agile methodologies; track record of budgeting, hours, and timeline reporting.
• Experience managing up to 15 projects or clients simultaneously.

Responsibilities

• Develop timelines, staff resources, and lead kickoff meetings.
• Oversee project execution with cross-functional teams to ensure scope, timeline and budget alignment.
• Lead internal status meetings and provide clear project updates to the team.
• Monitor budgets and resource utilization to ensure profitability and availability.
• Resolve complex challenges related to scope, resources, or timelines.

Skills

Project Management

Cross-functional Collaboration

Team Coordination

Tools

Trello

HubSpot

Pardot

Google Analytics

Job description

Walker Sands is one of the fastest-growing integrated B2B marketing agencies in the world. We are looking for a high-impact Senior Project Manager to help fuel that continued growth on a 6 month contract. Monthly compensation for this role is expected to be between $4,500-$6,500.

As an agency, we exist to accelerate growth—for our clients, our people and the B2B industry. We partner with B2B technology and services companies, from high-growth Silicon Valley businesses to global Fortune 500 brands, to drive meaningful business results. At Walker Sands, curiosity sparks new ideas, collaboration makes the work stronger, and people are at the center of everything we do.

Walker Sands is looking for an experienced Senior Project Manager to support a variety of projects on a contract basis. At the end of the contract, this role may be converted into a permanent position based on performance and the needs of the business.

As a Senior Project Manager, you’ll manage a portfolio of accounts and collaborate with account managers, writers, designers, strategists, strategic communication team members, and digital marketing team members to ensure projects meet both client expectations and agency goals. You’ll also play a role in optimizing processes, mentoring junior team members and driving the agency’s ability to achieve client outcomes.

What You Will Do (Responsibilities):

• Project Planning + Setup

  • Develop timelines, collaboratively staff resources with service team leads and lead kickoff meetings
  • Lead internal project kickoff meetings to ensure internal alignment to scope and client outcomes
  • Anticipate risks during project planning and proactively propose ways to mitigate those risks

• Project Execution + Monitoring

  • Oversee project execution with cross-functional teams while ensuring alignment to scope, timeline, and budget
  • Conduct QC/QA checks and alignment of deliverables to client outcomes and program scope
  • Lead internal status meetings and provide clear project updates to the team
  • Monitor budgets and team utilization to ensure profitability and resource availability
  • Lead effort to resolve complex challenges related to scope, resource constraints, or timeline risks

• Communication + Collaboration

  • Act as a primary point of contact for internal team, providing guidance and removing internal roadblocks
  • Promote seamless communication between internal team, account management, and client to ensure alignment on outcomes and deliverables
  • Serve as a secondary point of contact for clients and participate in client meetings to speak to project status
  • Activate action items to keep projects on track

• Process Improvement

  • Provide feedback on project workflows and identify processes to improve
  • Ensure all project assets are organized on Google Drive and accessible to project teams
  • Contribute to department and agency process improvement

Non-Negotiables

• You take ownership. You follow through, close loops, and hold yourself accountable for outcomes.
• You build trust quickly. You show professionalism, responsiveness, and reliability in every interaction.
• You anticipate needs. You see around corners, flag risks early, and proactively guide clients and teams.
• You’re collaborative. You make the work better by working well with others.
• You crave candid feedback. You embrace it as a powerful tool for growth.
• You pursue excellence. You’re always learning, always sharing, always pushing to get better.
• You embody agency readiness. You stay steady in pace, navigate shifting priorities, and help your team do the same.

What You Bring (Requirements):

• Experience: 4+ years of project management experience in a marketing or agency environment with exposure to creative, strategy, and digital marketing projects types and deliverables
• Tools: Experience with Project Management tools like Trello, and familiarity with digital marketing platforms that support marketing automation and paid media like Hubspot, Pardot, Google Analytics, etc.
• Knowledge: Strong understanding of Waterfall and Agile methodologies, and project reporting metrics like hours tracking, budget management, and timeline management
• Scope: Experience with managing up to 15 projects or clients at a time, with the ability to shift priorities based on client and internal feedback.

What We Offer (Compensation + Benefits):

• Monthly Salary: $4500-$6500

  • Base salary is only a part of the total rewards package. Placement on the salary scale will be determined by a variety of factors to ensure internal equity.

• Growth Opportunities: Clear career paths, mentorship programs, and learning events to help you grow professionally.

• Flexible PTO and Hybrid Work: Take time as needed for vacations, mental health, or personal days. Includes 8 paid holidays, half-day summer Fridays, and a week off between Christmas and New Year.

• Performance & Coaching: Regular performance reviews, clear goal-setting, and ongoing coaching to help you understand expectations, grow your skills, and make progress in your career.

• Community & Belonging: Employee resource groups, volunteer opportunities, and programs designed to build connection across the agency.

• Culture: Our agency offers an award-winning culture. Read more on our website here!

We strongly encourage people of color, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and non-binary people, veterans, parents, and individuals with disabilities to apply. As an equal opportunity employer Walker Sands is committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion and welcomes everyone to our team.